Bill Michael said...

I will never for get the day the Stuarts moved into our ward and introduced us all to their sweet little family. We were told that James had some amazing abilities but we did not get an introduction to them until the day he got a hold of one of the old ward lists that Harold had access to as a clerk. James had taken it upon himself to memorize all the birthdates of people in the ward and one day Randol came to me and said " we have a little problem" with a smile. It seems that James was approaching many of the older sisters and reciting their birthdates and age out loud! We told Harold what was happening and he said " I can promise you two things... one is that he will not have any further access to the list and two.... he will not forget anything he already committed to memory! How true that was... and how true is it that none of us will ever forget James and his guileless personality and the glimpses he gave all of us into what it takes to be an inheritor of all the Father hath promised to His noble spirit children.

September 26, 2010 10:45 PM

Joe and Julie Lindsey said...

Everyone James touched became his friend and even those whom he did not know became acquainted with him. He did not live in our ward when most of our seven children were growing up but when they would come to back San Jose for a visit, he would rush over to them, call them by name and tell them where they lived. All of our children eventually met James and they were friends. Yhey all were saddened when they heard he had left this life.

Years ago, James told me the turn-by-turn directions from Mt Madonna State Park (where we were at a the annual Fathers and Sons outing) to the Orange County Fairgrounds. If knew that if I ever needed to go there, James would be my navigator.

And, thanks to James, I learned all the types of trees planted around the Noreen Chapel.

We will all miss James and his enthusiasm for life, his knowledge of quaint facts, his joy in living in spite of whatever limitations he had, but most of all, I will miss his sweet innocence and genuineness in meeting with and talking to everyone. I am sure he has already made all kinds of friends beyond this mortal veil. I can't wait to rub shoulder with him again.

September 26, 2010 10:15 PM

Lynn Shurtleff said...

Before we ever came to this earth we already knew about many of the challenges that we would encounter upon arriving here. Some of us knew that we would come to earth inheriting a defective body. Others knew that we would have the challenge of mental or emotional problems. Still others knew that we would be born into poverty, or even worse, into wealth. Whatever our challenges, we, along with James, raised our hand and said, "That will be just fine. I will be happy to accept those challenges. Because I want my earthly body. I know that only by attaining that imperfect body will I ever be able to attain a body like my Heavenly Father has - perfect, glorified, exalted."

So we all came to earth and took on our challenges. Some of us did better than others. Some of us complained or made excuses. Others moved ahead valiently,achieving greatness despite the challenges. James was in the second group. He completed every test that was put before him. He overcame his obstacles and showed the way to others who should have done much better,

James, my life is better because of the example that you set for me. Congratulations for having completed the course and for having shown us the way. I will look forward to the day that we might stand side by side as sons of God and as eternal friends.

President Lynn Shurtleff
Montevideo Uruguay Temple

September 23, 2010 11:51 AM

We have always loved James. One of my favorite memories was when James was probably 11 or 12 years old. I knew he had a knack for maps and when I was in his home he had told us about visiting the Jelly Belly factory and that he loved it. I thought it would be fun to take my kids to visit it. I set out thinking I knew where I was going and somehow lost the map I thought for sure I had in the car! We were so completely lost somewhere fairly close to our destination. The only person I could think of to call to help was James. Kathleen wasn’t sure he could help me, but handed the phone over to him. I told him the cross streets where I was and he told me exactly where to turn and the directions to get where I wanted to be and proceeded to tell me how close from our destination the temple was and how to get there after we were finished. I honestly was a hysterical mess when I called him. I was completely comforted and at ease and confident I knew where I was going after I spoke with James. We got there safely and even took a side trip to the temple grounds when we finished. I will always cherish that trip I had with my kids because of James’ help.

He was always so happy to see us. We loved him dearly and he loved us in return. I looked forward to those hugs whenever we came to visit the old ward after we moved away. What an honor it was to see him progress in the church. I remember being moved to tears seeing him pass the sacrament for the first time, blessing the sacrament as a young priest and ultimately walking through the doors of the church to visit and seeing James a young man with a missionary tag and really a missionary which was his lifelong dream come true! I will never forget that day. What an honor to shake his hand.

He had a true and lasting testimony of the gospel from the time he was just little. He wanted more than anything to be a part of the church and do everything he could to be worthy to be a missionary. What an example he has always been to me and to my family! So grateful for the love he always showed me and my children. What awesome parents he has! I am so impressed with the incredible sisters and brother he has! James has helped them become who they are today. We will miss you James. You will always be an incredible inspiration. The Drake Family loves you and always will!



With Love,

Sheron Drake

I think James first introduced himself to me after I became the bishop of Robertsville Ward in January 2002. He approached me as if he already knew me and started asking me questions. I didn't understand why he was interested in where I lived, but I told him. The following Sunday he approached me again and repeated back my address (and the addresses of a few other people that he thought I should know)! It was then that I realized James' gift. I appreciated James' eagle scout project that included a booklet containing the addresses and maps of all Church buildings in the area. James was a special spirit, and I will miss our 15 second conversations that we frequently had.

Posted for Virgil Moore

James was a sweet soul. Every Sunday I would look forward to seeing him in the chapel, taking care of sacrament or some other duty. He will really be missed by all of us. Heaven does have a very special angel now.

Posted for Dave & Pat Littau

James walked into the Sunday School class I was teaching about 18 years ago with a great big smile. His mother followed and asked me to be a little patient with him and told me he "might" get up and walk around during the class time, but please, just let him. These 18 years later I got used to him walking around the block from his house to mine and greeting me in the yard with the same smile and "Hi, Sister Beck, you live on the same block as me, don't you. You know your telephone number is 408-XXX-XXXX!" James was always right. His memory was as clean and clear as his conscience!

Posted for Bonita Beck

There was no better way to start my day than with James on the second
row, aisle seat, in 6:00 AM Seminary. His presence brought tenderness
to the class dynamic. He was influential in teaching, by example,
what the principles of fellowship and empathy consist of. I remember
a few times in his senior year that he would speak with a clarity and
succinctness that would end the lesson. How can a teacher or a class
discussion possibly top the simple truth and heart of the gospel of
Jesus Christ the way James could do in just a few pure words? Class
would end early on those mornings. When I’d see him at school
functions or in church meetings, or any social occasion, I always felt
special and valued when he would choose me to talk to, to shake my
hand, and to share with me the things he knows. He changed every life
he touched. Whether it was a moment or years enjoying his sweet
spirit, one didn’t leave his presence the same human being. He made
us all better people. I miss him already. He will not be forgotten.
I loved James.

Posted for Elizabeth Neipp

As a kid growing up in the Cambrian Park ward a few years older than James I remember James being really easy going and happy. After I went away to college, got married and moved back to San Jose we would still see James and the rest of the family often - watching our siblings in Leigh Marching Band competitions or choral/band/musical performances, Zion Youth Choir firesides, weddings, and other church gatherings. I could always count on James to be genuinely excited to see us and reach out to shake hands. He usually quoted my new address and would usually tell me a fact about another member of my family such as who my in-laws are and what their address is, or where my brother was serving a mission. He sometimes would ask me questions about other family members. He often asked me to remind him what my sister Christy's married name is. He sometimes would tell me about happenings in his own family too - like Elisabeth getting married or her new baby. Our conversations were never quite exactly the same thing twice and he'd always surprise me with something that would make me smile even bigger than I already was. However, I could always count on a, "Good to see you," and I felt like he meant it.

Posted for Janet Chiba Williams